3 Tips To Help Improve Your Dental Implant Surgery Recovery

A mouth filled with healthy teeth is essential to the overall health of your body. Missing teeth have the potential to cause jawbone deterioration that can change your appearance or interfere with the way you chew and talk.

Dentists recommend replacing missing teeth as quickly as possible to avoid these negative side effects. Dental implant surgery is one option available to patients who want to replace missing teeth.

Dental implants are installed during a surgical procedure performed by a specialty dentist. It's important that you manage your recovery properly after surgery to ensure your new implant heals properly and remains secure over a long period of time.

1. Manage Bleeding and Swelling

All surgical procedures take a toll on the body, and dental implant surgery is no exception.

Your dentist will pack the surgical site with gauze before you leave his or her office to help absorb any blood that may be coming from the wound. Bleeding should subside quickly, but be sure that you have a ready supply of sterile gauze pads available throughout your recovery.

Any time the incision begins to bleed, you can place this gauze over the wound and bite down to apply pressure. Some weeping and minor bleeding is normal, but any moderate to severe bleeding is cause for concern and should be reported to your dentist.

Swelling can also become an issue during the recovery period after your dental implant surgery. Since a dentist will cut into the gum tissue during the procedure, this tissue experiences trauma.

Your dentist will likely suggest that you take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to help minimize swelling. A prescription anti-inflammatory can also be prescribed to you if your dentist feels that the medication will aid in your recovery.

2. Avoid Strenuous Activity

Any strenuous activity should be avoided while you are recovering from your dental implant surgery. Activities that cause your heart rate to increase can be detrimental to the healing process.

As your heart rate increases, there is an increased chance that you will experience bleeding and swelling near the surgical site. Strenuous activity can also contribute to any pain you feel during recovery. The increase in heart rate associated with strenuous activity can lead to a throbbing sensation at the implant site.

Take the time to clear your schedule of any house work, yard work, exercise, or other physical activity in the weeks following your dental implant surgery so that you can minimize the amount of pain, swelling, and bleeding you deal with while in recovery.

3. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

You should never neglect your oral hygiene in the weeks following a dental implant surgery. Your dentist will go over the proper hygiene routine with you before you leave his or her office, and you must stick to this routine each day.

Many implant patients avoid brushing or flossing because these activities can cause discomfort while recovering from an implant placement. Unfortunately, neglecting your oral hygiene during recovery can have devastating consequences.

Brushing and flossing help to eliminate harmful bacteria that could penetrate your incision site. These types of bacteria can cause a serious infection that may prevent osseointegration and cause your dental implant to fail.

You can request that your dentist provide a specialized toothbrush to minimize your discomfort while you are recovering after a dental implant surgery.

A dental implant offers a reliable and attractive way to replace missing teeth in your smile.

The outcome of your implant surgery will depend upon how well your recovery period goes, so make sure that you are prepared to do your part to make recovery as successful as possible.

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